Let’s Talk About This Mess We’re In
Look, I’ve been in this game for 20-odd years. Started as a beat reporter in Belfast, moved to London, now I’m editing for a living. And let me tell you, the news industry is a hot mess. It’s not just the committment to speed over accuracy, though that’s a big part of it. It’s the whole damn system.
I remember this one time, back in ’05, I think. No, ’06. Anyway, I was covering a council meeting in Lisburn. Some guy named Marcus—let’s call him Marcus—stood up and started yelling about the new parking meters. I quoted him directly, verbatim. Next day, his quote in the paper? Totally different. Not even close. And it wasn’t just me. It’s how we roll.
We take notes, we paraphrase, we interpret. We’re not robots. We’re humans. And humans make mistakes. But the problem isn’t the mistakes. It’s the pretence that we’ve got it all figured out.
But Here’s the Thing…
We don’t. And honestly, that’s okay. I mean, think about it. We’re expected to report on complex issues in real-time. With limited information. Under insane deadlines. And we’re supposed to be objective? Give me a break.
Take Brexit. Or the pandemic. Or, I don’t know, the latest celebrity feud. We’re all just trying to make sense of it. And most of the time, we’re failing. Spectacularly.
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave last Tuesday. Over coffee at that place on 5th, you know the one. He said, “We’re not journalists anymore. We’re content providers.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
But here’s the kicker. We’re not just failing. We’re failing in public. And we’re being paid to do it. It’s a wonder any of us still have jobs.
So What’s the Solution?
I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t. But I do know this: we need to stop pretending we’ve got it all together. We need to admit that we’re making it up as we go. That we’re biased. That we make mistakes. A lot.
And we need to start treating our audience like adults. Tell them when we don’t know something. Admit when we’ve screwed up. Give them the tools to make up their own minds.
Speaking of tools, if you’re gonna be in this biz, you need to know your stuff. And I mean really know it. Not just the basics. The deep, nitty-gritty details. The kind of stuff that makes your eyes glaze over. The kind of stuff that’s actually important. And if you’re looking for a place to start, check out the helpful resources online guide. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
But here’s the thing about tools. They’re only as good as the person using them. And if you’re not willing to put in the time, the effort, the sweat and tears? Well, then you might as well just give up now.
Because this job? It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s not for the lazy. It’s not for the stupid. It’s for the stubborn. The curious. The ones who just can’t let it go.
And if that’s not you? Well, then maybe you should find something else to do. Because this job? It’s gonna chew you up and spit you out. And frankly, I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing.
Because at the end of the day, we need people who are willing to ask the hard questions. To dig deep. To tell the truth, even when it hurts. Even when it costs them their job. Even when no one wants to hear it.
And if that’s not you? Well, then I guess you’re just not cut out for this business.
But if it is you? Welcome to the club. It’s a mess. But it’s our mess. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
About the Author
Sarah McDonald has been a journalist for over 20 years, working in print, broadcast, and digital media. She’s covered everything from local politics to international conflicts, and she’s not afraid to call out the industry’s dirty little secrets. When she’s not editing or writing, she can be found drinking too much coffee and complaining about the state of the world.
